Greenbrier To Improve Two Railroad Crossings

GREENBRIER TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – After months of research, two railroad crossings in Greenbrier will be getting a little safer in the coming months.

Recently, Greenbrier City Officials met with TDOT Officials, TDOT Consultants, and CSX Representatives to look at the railroad crossings within the City, according to officials with the city.

All of the crossings in Greenbrier were were given a ” risk analysis” and the decision was made to make improvements to two crossings. Industrial Drive MAP and Main Street MAP.

If you live in the Greenbrier area then you know that there have been issues related to the railroad crossing in and around the city in recent years.

Back in February a couple somehow escaped serious injury after their vehicle was hit by a train at the Industrial Dr crossing (MAP) See video below. FULL STORY

Back in 2014 a Springfield man was lucky to be alive after a train struck the passengers side of the minivan he was driving, again at the Industrial Drive railroad crossing.

His injuries were not life threatening, according to Capt. Randy Pack with Greenbrier Police on the night of the crash.

Any number of things could have happened Pack said, “The vehicle could have rolled, the train could have been going faster, he’s just lucky”

That night Pack also told Smokey Barn News that complaints about drivers not yielding at train crossings were on the rise. Just a month before this accident a young man was hit by a train at the Main St crossing but even before that Greenbrier Police started making a more concerted effort to monitor the railroad crossings.

There have been incidents all along this same stretch of track between Ridgetop and Springfield in recent years. Take a look at this vehicle that became stuck on the tracks at the E College St crossing in 2015. (FULL STORY)

They had to stop the trains while the car was removed from the tracks. Fortunately there was no train in the area at the time or this may have been a different story. For more local train related stories click here.

Below is a list of improvements that will be made at the Industrial Dr. and main St crossings. Each intersection will be given a different set of improvements.

Recommendations are: – New 12″ LED lights will replace the older incandescent lights – Gates will be added at the crossing – A left turn land will be added on Northbound Old Greenbrier Pk – New signage and striping within the project limits – The vertical profile of Industrial Dr near the crossing will be improved by adding asphalt surface and base layers

Main Street recommendations are: – New 12″ LED lights will replace the older incandescent lights with additional lights aimed at Old Greenbrier Pike – Gates will be added at the crossing – New signage and striping within the project limits – New safety lighting will be added

Greenbrier officials say that both crossing projects are expected to be in construction within a year.

“These two projects will be funded 100% with TDOT Safety Funds with the City only being responsible for a 10% portion of the paving that will occur at both crossings,” officials said.

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